Republican-backed State Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler ran unopposed, winning a second 10-year term. Given the fury over Trump and the November elections, a liberal challenger would have had a chance.more

Tim Cullen abruptly announced he would no longer run for the Democratic nomination for governor. Was it truly the evil of fundraising? Or did he think his spirit of compromise doomed him among partisan voters?more

Jill Karofsky wins contested judge race, Fitchburg has a new mayor and only one political newcomer elected to the Madison Common Council. Voters also select Kate Toews and Nicki Vander Meulen to join the Madison school board.more

There’s no shortage of Democrats believed to be mulling a gubernatorial run in 2018. Citizen Dave believes former state Rep. Spencer Black could be better than all of them. If only he can convince him to run.more

Isthmus moderates mini-debates between the candidates for the Common Council’s five contested races. Ald. Maurice-Cheeks and challenger Steve Fitzsimmons differ sharply on policing, while Ald. Zach Wood and John Terry Jr. talk housing.more

Republicans control the state Assembly, state Senate, governor’s office and state Supreme Court, though it’s technically a nonpartisan body. How did it get this bad? Dave Cieslewicz goes looking for answers.more

There are at least three ways that we can deal with the reality of Donald Trump and the simmering politics of resentment that elevated him. We can try to ignore it, we can get angry or we can try to understand it.more

Midterm elections usually hurt the president’s party, but even a national Democratic wave does not guarantee the governor’s office. While Dems need rural voters for a victory, the party should not rule out Madison or Milwaukee candidates.more

Congressman Ron Kind has won no less than 11 elections to represent his rural district in southwest Wisconsin. His family has deep roots in that part of the state. He might be the ideal Democrat to run against Scott Walker.more